RESTAURANT REVIEW

El Zocalo Restaurant (cont.)

just great and may expose you to something you may not have ordered, but now love. Case in point, we just stopped in at an odd hour between lunch and dinner and just really wanted cocktails and appetizers. We ordered their signature margarita and a tequila sunrise, ($5.95 each), and both of us got Chilaquiles ($11). Which Sandra explained was a sort of true Mexican nachos. Crispy corn tortilla chips topped with shredded chicken on one and shredded beef on the other, with queso fresco (shredded cheeses) topped with red sauce on one (a little spicy) and green sauce (very mild) on the other and a dollop of sour cream. WE CLEANED BOTH PLATES. They customize heat here, or add none at all. You must try their Handcrafted Guacamole ($8). Served with the same crisp, fresh chips, it has diced tomato, onion and is ever so slightly cilantro infused. I hate cilantro and LOVED this. THE best guacamole I EVER HAD!

Because the “gringos” asked, you can now find some Americano/Mexican on the menu. My favorite Jalapeno Poppers $6, get you 8 great peppers with the right amount of heat, cooled by smooth cream cheese; Nachos “El Zócalo,” $8, a healthy serving of signature chips, covered in melted cheese, (THE BEST EVER refried beans), ground beef and REAL pico de gallo. And another excellent & authentic Mexican appetizer: Queso Fundido ($9). OMG! Melted authentic Chihuahua cheese topped with chorizo “ground pork,” served in a molcajete with four flour tortillas.

They offer six kinds of salads and tacos that are hands-down one of THE best bargains ($2.50 ea) in SoFla! Hard Tacos or soft (your choice) are FILLED with grilled steak, flank steak, pork, beef, chicken, tongue, grilled peppers and onion ++. You won’t find these at Taco Bell, and if you did, they’d never taste this good.

There are many fabulous quesadillas from veggie to grilled shrimp ($6-9), Tostadas ($3.50) Enchiladas, Alambres, and yes, now by request of a devoted following of Americanos; Burritos and Chimichangas that all rock ($10-12)!

Their homemade mole is superb. A thick, dark sauce that’s a combination of chiles and chocolate slowly roasted, it’s a perfect foil for many dishes. But do try their House and MEXICAN specialties like Tampiquena Steak ($16). Flavorful broiled skirt steak, served with a cheese enchilada, guacamole, yellow rice and refried beans, it was great. So were their Chiles Rellenos ($13) Two mild Poblano Chiles stuffed with ground beef or cheese, dipped in egg batter and deep fried. HOLY OLE!

El Zócalo is an authentic place, where really nice, decent, very hardworking people bring awesome food to the table, at some of the most affordable prices anywhere. Oh, order their tres leche cake ($3.95). We loved it!

Breakfast all day, lunch ($6-8.95 incl salsa, chips AND Soup) and dinner. Open 11am-9pm weekdays. 11am-10pm Fri & Sat, 11am-8pm Sunday. Kids Menu. All credit cards. Beer and wine.

1436 N. State Rd. 7, Margate (just south of Copans Road on the west side of 441 –– next to Dunkin Donuts) 954.984.0004.